Toilet maker flush with pride after biogas bike run

[Xracer]

TOKYO: Enter the Neo. Part motorcycle and part toilet, it runs on eco-friendly biogas produced from sewage -- and recently completed a journey of more than 1,000 km (600 miles) across Japan.

The three-wheeled vehicle, developed by Japanese toilet maker Toto, features a toilet for a seat and has a giant roll of toilet paper mounted on the back that flutters in the breeze as the bike cruises along.

But there are no plans to put the bike on sale. Toto intends to put it on display.

The biogas used as fuel for the Neo is produced from a combination of household sewage and livestock waste, broken down and fermented, company spokesman Kenji Fujita said.

"Although the seat of the bike is indeed a toilet, it is not for actual use. The fuel is eco-friendly biogas, stored in the tanks on the back," he said.

"It's a surprisingly nice way to travel."

The 380 kg (837 lb) motorcycle can run for a total of 300 km and reach speeds of up to 70 km an hour (45 mph).

Ichie Tanaka, one of six people who rode the Neo across Japan during the three-week, 1,400 km (870 miles) tour to promote biofuels, said she was relieved the journey was over.

"At first when I saw the bike, I was taken aback. But after riding it, I found it quite interesting," the 28-year-old said.

"It doesn't hurt at all and is actually quite comfortable to sit on."

 

[nForce]

the idea that they are trying to propagate is quite promising actually-Biogas from sewage.Sewage is treated to render harmless and biogas is generated from it.
Take a look at this report::

The biogas generated during the treatment of sewage at Asia’s largest Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Bharwara in Lucknow might be used for the production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

The state government has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for selection of a private agency for the production and marketing of CNG. The STP was commissioned about seven months ago.

The project of CNG generation using biogas will be based on Public-Private Partnership model. The selected agency will be given land at the STP site for 25 years for installation of required infrastructure and use the biogas for production and marketing of CNG. The amount of biogas expected to be generated from STP is approximately 402.50 cubic metre per hour.

As per the EOI, after 25 years the CNG plant will be transferred to the state government, which may select any new agency to operate the plant. During first 25 years, the private agency will make monthly payment to the UP Jal Nigam for the actual quantity of bio gas used for CNG generation. It will also pay Jal Nigam, which is running the STP, a certain share from its profit. Meanwhile, UP Jal Nigam has planned a site visit cum pre-bid meeting at Bharwara on September 2.

Source

BANGALORE: Managing sewage has given many a sleepless night to the officials of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), what with the city discharging 700 million litres of it daily.
After a dull public response put the board's plan of turning sewage into drinking water on the backburner, BWSSB is now setting its eyes on generation of biogas with the treatment of sewage.
“We are planning to use the biogas that would be produced from sewage for generating electricity. If all the sewage discharged in the city is used for this purpose, the current power crisis can be solved to some extent,” said a BWSSB official.
The BWSSB will construct 13 plants around the city to generate biogas from sewage.
Three of the plants will be constructed near the old sewage treatment plants.
The sewage will be directed into a specially designed bio-digester, which will facilitate the generation of biogas (mostly methane) from it. The biogas thus generated will be used as fuel for the generation of electricity, sources said.
Sewage becomes less toxic after biogas is generated as some of the poisonous gases are released in the process.
Thus, the residue can be used as manure.
After the process, the sewage water can be treated and used for non-potable purposes such as watering plants and washing clothes.
Tertiary-treated sewage is also considered safe for drinking after ultra-filtration, sources added.
The BWSSB had organised a seminar in June 2009 to create awareness about the generation of biogas from sewage, in which a delegation from the Swedish Energy Agency had also participated.
The idea of generating biogas from sewage had been discussed in the seminar.

Source